Definitions

central

[sen-truhl] / ˈsɛn trəl /

ADJECTIVE

main, principal; in the middle

Synonyms

STRONGEST

basic essential fundamental important key paramount pivotal significant

STRONG

cardinal center chief dominant interior intermediate leading master mean median middle midway primary prime radical ruling salient umbilical

WEAK

axial centric centroidal equidistant focal foremost inmost inner mid middlemost midmost nuclear omphalic outstanding overriding predominant

Antonyms

STRONGEST

additional auxiliary extra inessential insignificant minor nonessential secondary trivial unimportant unsubstantial

STRONG

exterior extreme inferior outer outside subordinate

WEAK

peripheral

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The museum had designated one central tree to be the official “Wish Tree” and it had built an elevated platform around the trunk base, so visitors could reach the branches more easily.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

That will most certainly be a central question on the lips of those who will get to quiz Gates.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

Jakarta also gained as the rupiah strengthened following a surprise rate hike by the Indonesian central bank.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

Beacon imbues its portfolio companies with a central AI-enabled operating system to help them deeply analyze their businesses; the goal is to find tasks to automate, raise productivity and grow profit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

All day long the horse-drawn trolley clopped and clanged past our house to stop at the Grote Markt, the central town square half a block away.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Vocabulary lists containing central

The SAT: Language of the Test, List 2

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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 1

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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)

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